Blues Boom

The Blues is one of my favourite genres of music, both to listen to and to play. I often go back to those classic records by B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Albert King, Robert Johnson, Lightning Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, Freddie King, as well as those they inspired, like Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall, Robert Cray, and many others.

Blues is normally a fairly underground style of music, played in small clubs to a handful of enthusiasts, but about every ten to fifteen years or so, it gradually becomes more popular for a short while, perhaps two or three years. We have come to describe this phenomenon as as Blues Boom. Former fans that had previously forgotten about it start to show up to gigs, and young people get tired of the latest fashionable fad being fed to them by the corporations that run the entertainment industry, and catch on to real music played on real instruments by real musicians that actually have something to say.

The term "Blues" has a very loose definition, and its exact meaning has been endlessly debated. It is often used to describe music that uses blues harmony and chord progressions, but other influences may be accepted, anything from folk, country, rockabilly, jazz, to soul, funk and even hard rock following on from The Jeff Beck Group, Cream, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. For me, it's anything with its roots in the Afro-American musical styles of the 1920s to 1970s, so long as it has feel. In other words, it moves you, either musically, or lyrically, or both.

During a Blues Boom, the music may or may not become accepted by mainstream entertainment channels. That certainly happened in the early-to-mid 1960s, when Blues-influenced bands such as The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, Manfred Mann, The Kinks, The Who and The Animals jostled for positions in the charts, and even exported the music back to its country of origin, the U.S. Without those British bands, mainstream America might still be in blissful ignorance of its own rich heritage of roots music.

For some time now I've been getting the feeling that a new Blues Boom is under way. For example, there's a monthly glossy magazine called The Blues Magazine available in nationwide chains such as W.H. Smiths. Look in the back pages and there's a gig guide featuring an abundance of artists and venues.

Joining the long-established venues like the 100 Club, venues and clubs that had long remained dormant have sprung back into life, including the Eel Pie Club and the Ealing Club, once home of Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, and famously the place where the main members of the Rolling Stones originally met.

Alongside the experienced performers, younger artists are getting in on the act, possibly reacting against the over-technological styles of their peers, that require little or no actual talent or skill to perform.

Even in the times between Blues Booms, enterprising enthusiasts organise Blues Festivals, but at the moment there are more of them than usual, and some of them are even being sponsored or supported by local government. I've been to two lately, at Croydon and at Ealing.

Here are some of the artists that I've seen and enjoyed recently. I encourage you to click on the links and check them out. Katie Bradley with her virtuoso guitarist Dudley Ross, Robin Bibi, Giles Hedley, Kingsize Slim, Big Boy Bloater, Chris Corcoran, Paul Lamb & Chad Strentz, Paul Lamb & The Kingsnakes, Jerimiah Marques & The Blue Aces, Big Joe Louis, The Heritage Blues Orchestra, Jump 66, Kat & Co., The Alan Glen/John O'Leary All Stars, and Earl Thomas & The Royal Guard.

As for myself, after a period of carrying out my trade as a jobbing guitarist with function and tribute bands, I've gone back to Blues with a vengeance. I currently play in two regularly gigging bands, both with strong Blues influences. One of them is John Stapleton's Rhythm'n'Blues Party. As the name suggests, this is an excellent party band, guaranteed to get any dancers in the audience on their feet. The other is Chad Strentz & The Chad-illacs. Chad is a well-loved and respected face on the Blues scene, as lead vocalist with Paul Lamb's bands, and this new band has been formed to promote Chad's new solo album. I am also privileged to be occasionally asked to deputise by some great bands, including Jerimiah Marques & The Blue Aces and The Blues Bandits.

Long may this Blues Boom continue!